The NBA is a star-driven league and each season is defined by the remarkable heights those stars achieve. In anticipation of the upcoming 2026–27 season, we chose five players we believe will write the story of this campaign—the names that will echo throughout history when we look back on everything that is to come.
First up was Jayson Tatum. Next? Victor Wembanyama.
While the NBA has never seen anybody quite like Victor Wembanyama, he snugly fits a familiar profile in the bigger picture: the larger-than-life (literally) generational superstar whose talents can define an era. He’s cut from the same cloth as Hakeem, Shaq and LeBron as amazing prospects draped in Hall of Fame-caliber potential from the moment they entered the basketball world’s consciousness. As with those impressive names, Wemby, too, didn’t need much time to start proving it at the NBA level. Production was immediate and stardom apparent from the opening games of his rookie season in the way old heads regale the young bucks of legends long past.
